A Pre-Production Checklist
Shaky shot? We’ll fix it in post.
Color not looking right? We’ll fix it in post.
The fifteen jet fighter planes that buzzed past while you were recording an interview? We’ll fix it post.
The thing is, you probably won’t be able to fix it in post.
There is a lot of magic that the editor adds to great videos, but it’s always better to be prepared ahead of time.
The Importance of Pre-Production
Pre-production is the planning aspect of your marketing video. If you are monetizing your videos today then you need to pay attention.
Pre-production usually includes a list of all the things you need to film and capture before you get to your shooting location.
Pre-Production Checklist
A great video production company will have a thorough pre-production checklist. It will include some or all of these aspects.
- Audience – Who are you targeting with your video?
- Goal – Where will this video be used? Is it a marketing video? A social media video? A revenue-generating video?
- Video Crew – Who will absolutely need to be a part of the video production crew on the day of the shoot?
- Shoot Day Schedule – A breakdown of the day of video shooting.
- Video Shots – A video shot list of all the shots absolutely necessary to get on the day of the shoot.
- Script – A detailed script of all that needs to happen. Scripts don’t just exist for films. A good script guides the video crew on how to shoot the video to achieve the goal.
- Locations – A list of filming locations and notes on obtaining permissions if required.
- Interview Subjects – A list of the type of people who need to be interviewed if you are recording a man-on-street interview.
- B-Roll Footage – A list of all the supplemental footage required on the day of the shoot
- Post–Production Crew – What kind of editing, special effects, voiceover artists, and music will be required to finish the video.